CDC monitoring 96 people over imported H7N9 case

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday that it is keeping a close eye on 96 people who came into contact with a Chinese tourist confirmed to be infected with H7N9 avian flu.

One of the 96 people has been fatigued and developed a fever, and is undergoing tests, with the results expected later in the day, the centers said.

Among the others, measures to prevent the spread of the disease have been taken to help 48 of them, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center director Christine Liu (劉定萍) said.

The monitoring of the 96 people — comprising the tourist’s family members, members of the same tour group and passengers who were on the flight the group took to Taiwan — will likely conclude on Wednesday next week, the centers said.

The tourist, who was confirmed on Tuesday as the third imported case of H7N9 in Taiwan, is a 44-year-old woman from Jiangsu Province.

Still in serious condition in an intensive care unit, she had a dry cough and muscle soreness when she arrived in Taiwan and went to a clinic in New Taipei City to be treated the same day.

On Friday, she developed nausea and a fever. On Saturday she went to a hospital. An X-ray showed that she had pneumonia and pleural effusion (in which excess fluid builds up around the lungs).

On Sunday, she was taken to a medical center by her tour group leader and was given Tamiflu. The medical center then notified the CDC of a suspected H7N9 avian flu case.

Other members of the group have continued their planned itinerary and were scheduled to depart today.

Taiwan confirmed its first and second imported H7N9 cases, also from China, on April 24 and Dec. 31 last year.

Since April 3 last year, 576 suspected H7N9 cases have been reported, but only three have been confirmed, with the December case the only fatality. The other 573 suspected cases tested negative.

This story has been viewed 1930 times.

Comments will be moderated. Remarks containing abusive and obscene language, personal attacks of any kind or promotion will be removed and the user banned.